Fetal extractor for use during birth

ABSTRACT

A fetal extractor comprising a first plate member defining a front concave surface adapted to be adhered to part of the head of a fetus by means of an adhesive previously placed on the head of the fetus or on said surface, a second plate member substantially parallelly positioned with respect to said first plate member, bearing balls, a ring retaining said plate members and said bearing balls assembled to only permit relative rotary movement of one plate member with respect to the other about an axis substantially perpendicular to said plate members, and a traction hook secured to said front plate member for applying a traction force thereto.

United States Patent [191 Chertkoff [451 Nov. 19, 1974 1 FETAL EXTRACTOR FOR USE DURING [21] Appl. No.: 278,818

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Primary Examiner-Dalton ls. Truluck Attorney, Agent, or FirmMilton Osheroff [57] ABSTRACT A fetal extractor comprising a first plate member defining a front concave surface adapted to be adhered to part of the head of a fetus by means of an adhesive previously placed on the head of the fetus or on said surface, a second plate member substantially parallelly positioned with respect to said first plate member, bearing balls, a ring retaining said plate members and said bearing balls assembled to only permit relative rotary movement of one plate member with respect to the other about an axis substantially perpendicular to said plate members, and a traction hook secured to said front plate member for applying a traction force thereto.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures FETAL EXTRACTOR FOR USE DURING BIRTH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The present invention relates to a fetal extractor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART It is known that during birth, a fetus of 7 months 28 weeks or more, must rotate following the shape of the pelvis in order to come out through the birth channel.

It is also known to use auxiliary equipment to facilitate birth when the conditions require it. The two most used devices are the forceps, which comprise a pair of pincers or tongs adapted to grasp the head of the fetus, and the suction cup, which comprises a dome shaped deformable member adapted to be secured by vacuum to the scalp of the fetus.

Although it is well known that suction cups reduce the possibility of causing non-reparable damage to the brain, as is often produced by the use of forceps, such suction cups can be the cause of damage to the scalp.

The injuries caused by forceps are due to the concentrated pressure exerted by the tongs or pincers on the head when the surgeon or midwife attempts to traction the child to facilitate movement down the birth channel. Obviously, the fact that the body must rotate makes it even more difficult to avoid damage of the scalp and brain. Suction cups are more favourably viewed by the medical world because they cause a more even distribution over the scull, of the traction force exerted on the body thereby reducing the possibility of damages to the brain. However, as pointed out above, suction cups adhere to thescalp and therefore can cause injuries thereto. In addition both devices are known to have injured the mother who due to the circumstances is not the centre of attraction.

It is therefore the aim of the present invention to provide an apparatus to be used during birth which incorporates the beneficial features of forceps and suction cups but which overcomes their disadvantages. By means of the present invention the birth takes place in a more normal manner with reduced possibilities of damaging the child.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order to facilitate the comprehension of the present invention reference will now be made to a specific embodiment by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of the adhesive fetal extractor of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the adhesive fetal extractor of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view, taken along axis 3-3 of FIG. 2 of the extractor of the present invention and shown applied to the head of a fetus. In this figure, traction hook has been shown in elevation to facilitate understanding of the overall arrangement.

In all the figures of the drawings, the same referenc numbers have been used to indicate like, identical or corresponding parts.

As seen in the drawings, reference number I corresponds to a permanently rigid substantially circular plate member which has a front concave surface 2 with a group of concentric circular ridges 3 defined thereon. The central ridge of said group of ridges is positioned substantially at the center of circular plate 1. Ridges 3 define therebetween channels 4 which together with ridges 3 provide an increased surface for receiving a substance for adhering surface 2 to the head of a fetus. The adhesive substance used can be any of those known to adhere damp surfaces at 37C and which harden in 2 or 3 minutes and withstand a traction force of at least 15 Kg. which is that required to facilitate the birth of the child.

It has been found that the fetal scull bone is generally of such a shape that the preferred angle defined by surface 2, as shown in FIG. 3 is approximately 17.

Plate number 1 has rearwardly extending, hollow, cylindrical, and partially screw threaded portion 5 projecting from rear surface 6 of plate member 1. Rear surface 6 has a circular concave race 7 defined substantially around its periphery.

The device of the present invention also comprises a rear plate member 8 comprising an edge portion housing a plurality of bearing balls 9 adapted to roll on race 7 thereby reducing friction between rear surface 6 and the surface of rear plate member 8 resting thereagainst.

Rear plate member 8 is held in place by means of ring 10 provided with an external screw threaded surface and therefore adapted to be screwed into cylindrical portion 5. Ring 10 is also provided with a race 11 for bearing balls 9 whereby rear plate member 8 can rotate with respect to plate member 1 about an axis substantially perpendicular to front concave surface 2. A safety screw 12 is sunk into plate member 8 and cylindrical portion 5 so as to avoid rotation (by friction) of ring 10 during use. Ring 10 defines a bore 13 to enable the insertion of a tool for unscrewing ring 10 from cy lindrical portion 5.

In the central portion of rear plate member there is defined a perforation extending therethrough and serving to receive the shank of a traction hook 14 provided with a screw threaded end portion over which there is screwed a nut for securing traction hook 14 to plate member 8.

For use, the device of the present invention is secured, by either placing the above referred to adhesive on surface 2 or on the head of the unborn child. Then the extractor of this invention is held in contact with the head until the adhesive hardens. The further steps of use are well known to those skilled in the art, so their description is believed to be unnecessary. However, it is important to note that the extractor of the present invention does not compress the head of the fetus, nor does it suction the scalp. In addition, there is little or no possibility of it injuring the mother. The rotation normally carried out by the child being born is absolutely free and spontaneous and is in no way affected by the different positions adopted by the surgeon or midwife to traction the body. This obviously is achieved by the rotatable mounting of hook l4 and plate 8 with respect to concave surface 2.

It will be understood that improvements may be introduced into the embodiment described by way of example and modifications may be made in the constructions and material employed without departing from the scope of the invention specifically defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A fetal extractor comprising a permanently rigid plate member defining a concave surface, an adhesive substance on said surface for adhering said surface to part of a fetal head, rotatable means opposite said concave surface separate from and engaged with said plate member to move with respect thereto only by rotation about an axis substantially perpendicular to said surface, and means for applying external traction force to said rotatable means to traction the fetus when adhered to said surface.

2. A fetal extractor comprising a permanently rigid plate member defining a concave surface, said surface being adapted to become adhered to part of a fetal head by means of an adhesive substance previously placed on the head of the fetus or on said surface; a second plate member opposite said concave surface; bearing means between said plate members to enable said plate members to move, one with respect to the other, only about an axis substantially perpendicular to said sembled to only permit a relative rotary movement of one plate member with respect to the other about an axis substantially perpendicular to said plate members.

4. A fetal extractor according to claim 3, wherein said means for applying said external traction force is a traction hook secured to said second plate member.

5. A method of extracting a fetus of a child from a birth canal comprising the steps of(A) providing a fetal extractor comprising a member defining a front concave surface, (B) interposing an effective amount of an adhesive substance between said surface and a portion of the head of said fetus, (C) adhesively securing said surface to said head portion by means of said adhesive substance, and (D) exerting a traction force upon said extractor sufficient to assist the birth of the child. 

1. A fetal extractor comprising a permanently rigid plate Member defining a concave surface, an adhesive substance on said surface for adhering said surface to part of a fetal head, rotatable means opposite said concave surface separate from and engaged with said plate member to move with respect thereto only by rotation about an axis substantially perpendicular to said surface, and means for applying external traction force to said rotatable means to traction the fetus when adhered to said surface.
 2. A fetal extractor comprising a permanently rigid plate member defining a concave surface, said surface being adapted to become adhered to part of a fetal head by means of an adhesive substance previously placed on the head of the fetus or on said surface; a second plate member opposite said concave surface; bearing means between said plate members to enable said plate members to move, one with respect to the other, only about an axis substantially perpendicular to said surface, and means for applying external traction force to said second plate member to traction the fetus when adhered to said surface.
 3. A fetal extractor according to claim 2, wherein said second plate member is substantially parallelly positioned with respect to said first plate member and wherein said first and second plate members are rotatably engaged by means of bearing balls and a ring retaining said plate members and said bearing balls assembled to only permit a relative rotary movement of one plate member with respect to the other about an axis substantially perpendicular to said plate members.
 4. A fetal extractor according to claim 3, wherein said means for applying said external traction force is a traction hook secured to said second plate member.
 5. A method of extracting a fetus of a child from a birth canal comprising the steps of (A) providing a fetal extractor comprising a member defining a front concave surface, (B) interposing an effective amount of an adhesive substance between said surface and a portion of the head of said fetus, (C) adhesively securing said surface to said head portion by means of said adhesive substance, and (D) exerting a traction force upon said extractor sufficient to assist the birth of the child. 